Weapons watchdog: Nerve agent used to attack ex-spy was never declared

Military personnel wearing protective suits remove a police car and other vehicles from a public car park as they continue investigations into the poisoning of Sergei Skripal on March 11, 2018 in Salisbury, England.

SOURCE: Photo by Chris J Ratcliffe/Getty Images

Weapons watchdog: Nerve agent used to attack ex-spy was never declared

The global chemical weapons watchdog says that the class of nerve agents that Britain says was used to poison a Russian ex-spy and his daughter earlier this month has never been declared to the organization by any of its member states.

The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons also says that it "expects some action will be taken soon" in response to its offer to help the British investigation.

Advertisement

The OPCW didn't elaborate on what action could be taken, but the British representative to the organization said earlier this week that British authorities and police are working to allow the OPCW to independently verify the type of nerve agent used.

Britain says Russia is most likely behind the attack and alleges it involved a nerve agent known as Novichok.

British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson says it's "overwhelmingly likely" Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the use of a nerve agent against a former spy in the English city of Salisbury.

Prime Minister Theresa May has said it's "highly likely" the Kremlin is responsible for the attack on Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia.